Updated soy standard benchmark report: EUDR compliant plus

How do soy sustainability standards perform against key deforestation‑free, environmental and social criteria? The report ‘EUDR Compliant Plus: The value of soy sustainability standards in the EU context’ updates Profundo’s 2023 benchmark of soy Voluntary Standard Systems to assess how well they have evolved in response to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and how they can practically support company due diligence in 2025.

Header photo: A pile of soybeans © Filipp Romanovski on Unsplash

The study reviews 20 soy voluntary standards, benchmarked against the European Feed Manufacturer’s Federation’s 2023 Soy Sourcing Guidelines, examining what has changed since 2023 and what still needs to be addressed to deliver a credible, deforestation free and conversion free, and EUDR ready soy supply for Europe. Many of these standards will have a role to play in achieving and assuring deforestation- and conversion-free, sustainable soy supply chains.

Heleen van den Hombergh, Senior Expert Agro-Commodities at IUCN NL, supported researchers Pavel Boev and Jinke van Dam with the approach, context and recommendations for the soy supply chain. The research was commissioned by WWF Germany.

Key findings of the benchmark report

• Many standards have strengthened rules on deforestation, conversion, traceability and human rights since 2023, some have added specific EUDR modules or add-ons.
• Independent multi-stakeholder standards still outperform corporate schemes across most assessment categories.
• Mass balance supply chains remain widespread, despite being incompatible with EUDR requirements for traceable, segregated flows.
• Stronger geolocation data, data retention and field-based assurance are still needed.
• Social safeguards are uneven: forced and child labour prohibition, freedom of association and collective bargaining are widespread, while living-wage provisions and robust grievance mechanisms are still often an exception.
• Requirements on good agricultural practices and agrochemical use have improved, while biodiversity conservation and the protection of culturally significant areas, including UNESCO sites remain an area of improvement.

• Read the summary of the report